HISTORY - SMILES FOR THE PACIFIC

OUR HISTORYDr Newton Wickham (Well known Auckland Periodontist) on his retirement donated money into a trust which became known as ‘’Newton Wickham Auckland Dental Association Trust’’.

The purpose was to raise the standard of Oral Health for the people of the South Pacific. Sadly Wicky passed away some years ago. Dr Jonathan Cole a well known Auckland Dentist had great admiration for Wicky’s vision and was actively looking at ways of taking it forward. Then at an NZDA conference in Auckland (August 2011) similar minded Dentists Dr Jonathan Cole (Auckland) , Dr M Moopnar (Huntly)and Dr Yoshi Ediriweera (Ponsonby) met and discussed based on a request to help assist set up a rural Charity Dental Clinic at Veseisei Sai Health Centre in Vuda Fiji. Further additions to the group were Dr Abdul Aziz (Endodontist), Dr Prashant Kalayan, , Margot Distelzwey, Mr Brian Whitley (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon), and Dr Clarence Tam (Cosmetic Dentist, Chair NZACD). The general concept was to take Wicky’s vision to another level by setting up a Dental Project in the South Pacific to improve the standard of Dentistry by providing FREE:

a) Dental treatment to the poor and the needyb) Complex dental treatment that was not available c) Providing training and mentoring to all ranks of Dental Health Profession in Fiji and the South Pacific.

1) Set up NZ standard training and treatment centre 2) Provide all equipment, consumables.3) Send Dental Volunteer’s on a monthly basis for Treatment and Training

September 1st 2014

After fully refurbished, the MOH/SFTP TTC (Training and Treatment Centre) was formally opened and patients were seen.

Since April 2014

SFTP has undertaken over 35 Training and Treatment sessions at MOH/SFTP TTC and other locations like Labasa Hospital, Commonwelath War Memorial Hospital, Fiji National University Complex Suva.April 2014

November 7th Saturday SFTP NZ Charity Program at Huntly Dental Centre around 120 patients will be seen for FREE,07:00am---04.00pm(Program coordinator Brian Whitley/Moop).

2016 Steve Evans (OMF surgeon) Feb 2016 – Clarence Tam

Veseisei Sai Dental Centre: SFTP has also contributed equipment and materials towards the set up of this rural charity dental clinic in 2012—2013.

SFTP is a charitable organization We rely on the generosity of the NZ volunteer Dentists/ Specialists for their donated time and expertise for FREE. Over 40 Training and Treatment missions have been taken thus far since April 2014. The strength of SFTP is the large pool of generous volunteer specialists and Dentists supporting this cause in the South Pacific and our well established infrastructure and network in the South Pacific. We are in debt to Dental Industry, all donors, Volunteer Dental Specialists, Dentists for their support in this nobel cause, also a special thanks to Dr Prashant Kalyan mates in Fiji, Vision group and others for refurbishing SFTP/TTC, donations and providing transport for our volunteers and also Mr Graham Gun, Huntly Lions (builder) for generously flying to Fiji and making draught plan and design of TTC.

SFTP is the largest dental aid charity organization of its kind in the South Pacific.

Mixing both training and treatment, aimed to empower the local dental practitioners in south pacific to take dentistry to the next level. The cost of this sustainable program for the next 3-5 years is in excess of NZ 5Million

SFTP OCULAR UNIT (PROSTHETIC EYE, EAR, NOSE ETC) Plans are in progress to set up this very needed unit at CWMH SUVA Mike Williams specialized Maxillofacial Technician (Waikato Hospital is assisting SFTP with this new project which is not available in Fiji.

We are proud to be a part of this amazing success Our sincere thanks to you all

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